The duration of your physical therapy plan of care will vary depending on the severity of symptoms, how many impairments need to be addressed as well as the types of activities you aim to resume. While physical therapy cannot reverse arthritis it can improve symptoms of arthritis which can lead to easier participation in activities like walking and standing. Your physical therapist will work with you to determine how many weeks of therapy you will need but oftentimes treatment plans begin with about four weeks of therapy and then increase depending on patient needs. Achieving long lasting results may take some time, but dedication to your program will not only help you achieve these results but will help to decrease the likelihood of symptoms recurring in the future.

ARTHRITIS OF THE ANKLE

Arthritis is an umbrella term for conditions involving inflammation and pain in the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It causes degeneration of cartilage lining the joint and most often affects weight bearing joints like the ankles, hips and knees. This type of arthritis is often associated with “wear and tear” as a person ages. Other types of arthritis with different underlying causes exist as well. Arthritic conditions can typically be classified as degenerative, inflammatory, infectious or metabolic. Rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and gout are examples of other types of arthritis

The ankle is a hinge joint. If we look at an image of the ankle joint you will see the larger inner bone of the lower leg leg called the tibia and the thinner outer bone called the fibula articulate with a bone called the talus in the posterior part of the foot. Beneath the talus lies the calcaneus or heel bone. Many ligaments, muscles. and tendons travel between the bones of the lower leg and foot, crossing the ankle joint. The primary motion of the ankle joint is dorsiflexion and plantarflexion or lifting and pointing the foot. The motion that occurs at the joint between the talus and calcaneus bones allows the foot to turn in and out. Arthritis can affect any of the joints of the ankle and therefore affect motion in several planes. As arthritis progresses the congruency of the joint surfaces decreases which can further exacerbate pain and result in a need to change the way you stand, walk or move. If you, yourself have arthritis, you are probably familiar with the creative ways people often adapt to arthritis pain.

Though the symptoms of arthritis differ slightly based on the type, in general, ankle arthritis includes the following symptoms:

• Ankle joint pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Pain with weightbearing
• Joint pain and swelling that worsens with activity and improves with rest (though symptoms can occur at rest or after a period of rest in more advanced cases of arthritis)

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help with your ankle arthritis issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy for ankle arthritis sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your back pain PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATMENT OF ANKLE ARTHRITIS

While physical therapy cannot reverse the effects of arthritis on joint tissues, research shows that physical therapy is an effective tool to reduce pain and improve function. Though it may seem counterintuitive, reducing your level of movement and activity is often not the answer to arthritis pain. This is where a physical therapist can help. After interviewing and examining you, your PT at Evolve will work with you to understand your goals and develop a plan to help you get there. Your physical therapist may use the following treatments to achieve several goals important to the management of ankle arthritis:

Manual therapy such as joint mobilizations, soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, myofascial release and IASTM Modalities like ice, heat, ultrasound, laser therapy or electrical stimulation Therapeutic exercises to address impairments in ankle muscle strength and endurance or muscle length Neuromuscular re-education to retrain the muscles how to move Gait training to restore normal gait mechanics or help you learn how to use an assistive device like a cane or walker

Physical therapists use the above treatments to achieve these outcomes:

Pain Reduction: Ankle joint pain from arthritis may be mild, moderate or severe but physical therapy can help to address your pain symptoms.

Restore Joint Motion: Joint stiffness and loss of range of motion are common with ankle arthritis. Restoring normal joint motion is an important step in getting you back to your favorite activities.

Address Biomechanical Impairments: While the surfaces of the joint may no longer be pristine, how the joint moves and how much stress is applied across an arthritic joint can play a large role in how much pain you experience and how much you have to limit your activities. Proper strength, flexibility and control in the muscles surrounding the joint can optimize the movement of the joint and may reduce some of the rubbing that occurs between uneven joint surfaces.

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